Nissan Serena common problems and MOT failures
What goes wrong on a used Nissan Serena, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 7,043 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.
The 2000 Nissan Serena
Too few Nissan Serena cars first registered in 2000 had an MOT during 2025 for reliable MOT figures. There are no known faults on record for this year in the UK buying guides we use, so the rest of this page covers the Nissan Serena as a whole.
What to check on a 2000 car
- MOT history
Check the reg below: its MOT history shows what has been failed or advised, and whether the mileage adds up.
- Service history
Look for regular servicing and receipts for big jobs like a cambelt or clutch.
- Finance and write-offs
MOT records don’t show outstanding finance or insurance write-offs. A history check does.
- Test drive
Listen for knocks over bumps, check every warning light goes out, and make sure the gears and brakes feel right.
Other years
Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).
20262021202020192018201720162015201420132012201120102009200820072006200120001999199819971996199519941993
What usually goes wrong with a Nissan Serena?
We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Nissan Serena in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.
Common Nissan Serena MOT failures to check
Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, for each fuel on its own. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.
Hybrid
Rear fog light
up to 10.2× usualStands out on cars registered in 2013.
Rough price £10–£80 our estimateAt the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.
Nissan Serena MOT pass rate by year
Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2013 Nissan Serena did best (83% passed first time, 16 points above all 2013 cars) and the 2010 did worst (72%, 12 points above all 2010 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.
| Year | Pass first time | All cars that year | MOT tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 66% | 87% -21 | 225 (small sample) |
| 2020 | 70% | 87% -17 | 233 (small sample) |
| 2019 | 79% | 85% -6 | 382 (small sample) |
| 2018 | 74% | 83% -9 | 303 (small sample) |
| 2017 | 77% | 80% -3 | 349 (small sample) |
| 2016 | 81% | 77% +4 | 249 (small sample) |
| 2015 | 79% | 74% +5 | 323 (small sample) |
| 2014 | 84% | 70% +14 | 509 |
| 2013 | 83% | 67% +16 | 963 |
| 2012 | 77% | 64% +13 | 707 |
| 2011 | 76% | 62% +14 | 489 (small sample) |
| 2010 | 72% | 60% +12 | 796 |
| 2009 | 73% | 59% +14 | 588 |
| 2008 | 69% | 57% +12 | 445 (small sample) |
| 2007 | 66% | 57% +9 | 296 (small sample) |
| 2006 | 64% | 56% +8 | 186 (small sample) |
Questions to ask the seller before buying a Nissan Serena
Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.
- Any recent work on the rear fog light? (Flagged at MOT 13.8× as often on the Nissan Serena as on other cars the same age.)
- Any recent work on the track rod ends? (Flagged at MOT 3× as often on the Nissan Serena as on other cars the same age.)
- Any recent work on the steering swivel joints? (Flagged at MOT 5.5× as often on the Nissan Serena as on other cars the same age.)
- Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?
Looking at a Nissan Serena?
Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.
Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score